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Original Painted Pine Secretary Bureau from Sweden, dated 1847
Original Painted Pine Secretary Bureau from Sweden, dated 1847

Original Painted Pine Secretary Bureau from Sweden, dated 1847

Located in Round Top, TX

This unusual secretary is a special find. The remarkable folk art painted finish is all original, with a traditional faux wood motif in brown and brick red trimmed in a carved and pa...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Folk Art Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Pine, Paint

18th Century Danish Oak Secretary Bureau, Painted Black
18th Century Danish Oak Secretary Bureau, Painted Black

18th Century Danish Oak Secretary Bureau, Painted Black

Located in Round Top, TX

18th-century Danish oak secretary with a newer professionally applied layered black exterior finish and a contrasting dusky blue interior with gray undertones. The surface is lightly...

Category

Antique 18th Century Danish Rococo Secretaires

Materials

Oak

Painted French Provincial Ivory and Green circa 1920s Secretary/ Desk
Painted French Provincial Ivory and Green circa 1920s Secretary/ Desk

Painted French Provincial Ivory and Green circa 1920s Secretary/ Desk

Located in Essex, MA

In an all-over ivory paint with a wonderful light green interior throughout this beautiful turn of the century, a French provincial secretary/desk came out of a New York City Park Av...

Category

Early 20th Century Unknown French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood, Paint

Late 18th Century Swedish Secretary Cabinet with Historic Paint
Late 18th Century Swedish Secretary Cabinet with Historic Paint

Late 18th Century Swedish Secretary Cabinet with Historic Paint

Located in South Salem, NY

This rustic cabinet retains its historic paint--a soft blue faded beautifully with age. Fold-down desk features eight pigeonhole cubby with distressed, faded black paint.

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Antique Venetian Rococo Bombe Secretary Desk, Hand Painted Floral Bureau
Antique Venetian Rococo Bombe Secretary Desk, Hand Painted Floral Bureau

Antique Venetian Rococo Bombe Secretary Desk, Hand Painted Floral Bureau

Located in BŘECLAV, CZ

An elegant antique Venetian bombe secretary desk crafted in the Rococo revival style, featuring a gracefully curved silhouette and richly decorated surfaces.

Category

Early 20th Century Italian Rococo Revival Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

Tabletop Secretary
Tabletop Secretary

Tabletop Secretary

Located in Charlottesville, VA

A tabletop secretary decorated in chinoiserie with a slant front that opens to a fitted interior.

Category

Antique 19th Century English Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Paint

19th Century Hand-Painted Satin Wood Secretary Dresser
19th Century Hand-Painted Satin Wood Secretary Dresser

19th Century Hand-Painted Satin Wood Secretary Dresser

Located in Brooklyn, NY

This exquisite 19th-century antique hand-painted satin wood cabinet is a true work of art, showcasing the exceptional craftsmanship of its time. The cabinet’s lustrous satin wood fin...

Category

Antique 19th Century Georgian Dressers

Materials

Satinwood

Niccolini Italia Hand Painted Lady’s Bombay Secretary Desk 20thC
Niccolini Italia Hand Painted Lady’s Bombay Secretary Desk 20thC

Niccolini Italia Hand Painted Lady’s Bombay Secretary Desk 20thC

Located in Big Flats, NY

This antique Italian Niccolini secretary desk, dating to the 19th century, exemplifies the Rococo Revival style with its distinctive Bombay form.

Category

20th Century Secretaires

Materials

Wood

18th Century Hand Painted Venetian Style Electric Blue Pesaro Secretary
18th Century Hand Painted Venetian Style Electric Blue Pesaro Secretary

18th Century Hand Painted Venetian Style Electric Blue Pesaro Secretary

By Porte Italia

Located in Ronchi dei Legionari, IT

Each piece in the Collection is entirely hand-painted on every side of the Furniture by using the very best 18th Century Craftsmanship Venetian Techniques, passed down through the ge...

Category

2010s Italian Other Secretaires

Materials

Wood

19th Century Swedish Folk Art Secretary in Original Paint
19th Century Swedish Folk Art Secretary in Original Paint

19th Century Swedish Folk Art Secretary in Original Paint

Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire

Early 19th Century Swedish folk art secretary in original paint. With a curved pediment, below two doors opening to storage.

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Venetian Hand-Painted Blind Door Secretary with Bookcase, Circa 1900
Venetian Hand-Painted Blind Door Secretary with Bookcase, Circa 1900

Venetian Hand-Painted Blind Door Secretary with Bookcase, Circa 1900

Located in Charleston, SC

Venetian blind door secretary with a carved scrolled decorative cornice, upper case bookcase with hand-painted parrots and foliage, slant top reveling a fitted interior desk, three l...

Category

Antique Early 1900s Italian Neoclassical Secretaires

Materials

Brass

18th Century Antique Swedish Red Painted Baroque Secretary
18th Century Antique Swedish Red Painted Baroque Secretary

18th Century Antique Swedish Red Painted Baroque Secretary

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

A two-tiered wooden cabinet from the 18th century Swedish Gustavian period. The top door opens to reveal a decorative top shelf and three other shelves. The top of the bottom shelf c...

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Cupboards

Materials

Wood

Early 19th Century Danish Blue Painted Pine Secretary Bureau
Early 19th Century Danish Blue Painted Pine Secretary Bureau

Early 19th Century Danish Blue Painted Pine Secretary Bureau

Located in Round Top, TX

Early 19th-century Danish pine secretary with newer professionally applied layered blue painted exterior and contrasting steel-gray painted interior.

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Danish Baroque Secretaires

Materials

Pine

Mid-Century Italian Venetian Hand Painted Chinoiserie Secretary Desk
Mid-Century Italian Venetian Hand Painted Chinoiserie Secretary Desk

Mid-Century Italian Venetian Hand Painted Chinoiserie Secretary Desk

Located in Kennesaw, GA

This is a lovely mid-century Italian chinoiserie secretary desk. The coral and gilt interior makes such a vibrant statement.

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Poplar

Swedish Gustavian Slant-Front Secretary in Original Cream Paint, 19th Century
Swedish Gustavian Slant-Front Secretary in Original Cream Paint, 19th Century

Swedish Gustavian Slant-Front Secretary in Original Cream Paint, 19th Century

Located in Atlanta, GA

A refined Swedish Gustavian slant-front secretary from the early 19th century, presented in a beautifully aged original cream-painted finish with soft green undertones inside.

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Secretaires

Materials

Pine

Fantastic Paint Decorated Faux Marble Interior Venetian Secretary Desk
Fantastic Paint Decorated Faux Marble Interior Venetian Secretary Desk

Fantastic Paint Decorated Faux Marble Interior Venetian Secretary Desk

Located in Swedesboro, NJ

This fantastic paint decorated Venetian secretary desk with faux marble interior is a remarkable statement piece that captures the artistry and elegance of 19th to early 20th century...

Category

Antique Early 1900s Italian Louis XV Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Niccolini Venetian Rococo Hand Painted Bombay Secretary Desk Signed 20thC
Niccolini Venetian Rococo Hand Painted Bombay Secretary Desk Signed 20thC

Niccolini Venetian Rococo Hand Painted Bombay Secretary Desk Signed 20thC

Located in Big Flats, NY

This distinguished Niccolini Venetian Rococo secretary desk, originating from the 20th century, is a testament to exquisite Italian craftsmanship and decorative artistry.

Category

20th Century Secretaires

Materials

Wood

European 1800s Two-Part Painted Wood Secretary with Slanted Front Desk
European 1800s Two-Part Painted Wood Secretary with Slanted Front Desk

European 1800s Two-Part Painted Wood Secretary with Slanted Front Desk

Located in Atlanta, GA

A tall European painted wood two-part secretary from the early 19th century, with molded cornice, dentil molding, slanted front desk and graduated drawers.

Category

Antique Early 19th Century European Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Gustavian Style 1840s Gray Painted Drop Front Secretary with Graduated Drawers
Gustavian Style 1840s Gray Painted Drop Front Secretary with Graduated Drawers

Gustavian Style 1840s Gray Painted Drop Front Secretary with Graduated Drawers

Located in Atlanta, GA

A Swedish Gustavian style drop front secretary from circa 1840 with gray painted finish, writing area and three graduated drawers.

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Swedish Rococo Style Chapeau de Gendarme 1820s Gray Painted Tall Secretary
Swedish Rococo Style Chapeau de Gendarme 1820s Gray Painted Tall Secretary

Swedish Rococo Style Chapeau de Gendarme 1820s Gray Painted Tall Secretary

Located in Atlanta, GA

A Swedish Rococo style tall secretary from circa 1820 with gray painted finish, chapeau de gendarme bonnet top, two doors, slant-front desk and four drawers below.

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Rococo Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Italian Venetian Style Distressed Paint Decorated Secretary Desk C. 1950's
Italian Venetian Style Distressed Paint Decorated Secretary Desk C. 1950's

Italian Venetian Style Distressed Paint Decorated Secretary Desk C. 1950's

Located in Swedesboro, NJ

Dimensions - H: 78 1/4 in W: 35 1/2 in D: 16 1/4 in Capture the enchanting spirit of classic Europe with this Italian Venetian style distressed paint-decorated secretary desk, craf...

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Country Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Vintage Chinoiserie Butterfly & Bird Custom Painted Tall Secretary Desk & Chair
Vintage Chinoiserie Butterfly & Bird Custom Painted Tall Secretary Desk & Chair

Vintage Chinoiserie Butterfly & Bird Custom Painted Tall Secretary Desk & Chair

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Vintage Chinoiserie Butterfly & Bird Custom Painted 2 Piece Tall Secretary Desk & Chair. Item features blue and off-white painted finish with intricate bird and floral motifs on the ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Regency Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Cane, Wood

Bright and Beautiful Italian-Made Rococo Paint Decorated Secretary Desk
Bright and Beautiful Italian-Made Rococo Paint Decorated Secretary Desk

Bright and Beautiful Italian-Made Rococo Paint Decorated Secretary Desk

Located in Swedesboro, NJ

With its curvaceous bombe form, delicately carved frame, and charming paint decoration, this secretary is both functional and highly decorative.

Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Rococo Revival Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Fantastic English Adams Paint Decorated Satinwood Slant Lid Secretary Desk
Fantastic English Adams Paint Decorated Satinwood Slant Lid Secretary Desk

Fantastic English Adams Paint Decorated Satinwood Slant Lid Secretary Desk

Located in Swedesboro, NJ

This English Adams paint decorated satinwood slant lid secretary desk is a stunning example of neoclassical artistry and craftsmanship.

Category

Antique Early 1900s English Adam Style Secretaires

Materials

Satinwood

18th Century Hand-Painted Venetian Style Parma Blue Pesaro Secretary with roses
18th Century Hand-Painted Venetian Style Parma Blue Pesaro Secretary with roses

18th Century Hand-Painted Venetian Style Parma Blue Pesaro Secretary with roses

By Porte Italia

Located in Ronchi dei Legionari, IT

From our Hand-Painted Furniture Collection, we are pleased to introduce you to our Parma Blue Pesaro Secretary with Roses.

Category

2010s Italian Other Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Danish Blue Painted Rococo Secretary Desk in the Manner of Mathias Ortmann
Danish Blue Painted Rococo Secretary Desk in the Manner of Mathias Ortmann

Danish Blue Painted Rococo Secretary Desk in the Manner of Mathias Ortmann

Located in Kastrup, DK

The piece features an attractive, slightly dusty blue paint with fine patina, and features gilded bronze mounts that form a refined contrast to the painted surface.

Category

Antique Mid-18th Century Danish Rococo Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

Antique Painted Gustavian Grey/White Secretary with Fall-Front & Birch Interior
Antique Painted Gustavian Grey/White Secretary with Fall-Front & Birch Interior

Antique Painted Gustavian Grey/White Secretary with Fall-Front & Birch Interior

Located in INTERLAKEN, NY

A very lovely Louis Philippe fall-front secretary in pine with a light Gustavian-grey/white painted finish, and original French-polished birch wood interior.

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century German Louis Philippe Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Antique Swedish Country Secretary Desk, Empire Period with Original Faux Paint
Antique Swedish Country Secretary Desk, Empire Period with Original Faux Paint

Antique Swedish Country Secretary Desk, Empire Period with Original Faux Paint

Located in Kramfors, SE

Swedish antique country secretary desk from the empire period. Made in northern Sweden around 1840 with original untouched faux paint, an 19th century painter’s free interpretation o...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Empire Secretaires

Materials

Pine

18th century Georgian secretary in hand painted blue wedge wood swirl finish
18th century Georgian secretary in hand painted blue wedge wood swirl finish

18th century Georgian secretary in hand painted blue wedge wood swirl finish

Located in Richmond, VA

Wonderful 18th century Georgian mahogany secretary with hand painted wedgewood swirl finish by “The Fabulous Things”.

Category

Antique 18th Century English Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Paint

18th C. Venetian Secretary Hutch with a Beautiful Hand-Painted Finish
18th C. Venetian Secretary Hutch with a Beautiful Hand-Painted Finish

18th C. Venetian Secretary Hutch with a Beautiful Hand-Painted Finish

Located in Atlanta, GA

An Italian Venetian tall secretary cabinet from the 18th century. This antique 7.75 feet tall (approximate) cabinet from Venice, Italy, boasts a beautifully hand-painted and embellis...

Category

Antique 18th Century Italian Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Danish 1810s Beige Gray Painted Two-Part Tall Secretary with Slant-Front Desk
Danish 1810s Beige Gray Painted Two-Part Tall Secretary with Slant-Front Desk

Danish 1810s Beige Gray Painted Two-Part Tall Secretary with Slant-Front Desk

Located in Atlanta, GA

A Danish painted wood two-part secretary from circa 1810 with beige / light gray painted finish, slanted desk, four doors and carved reeded panels.

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Danish Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Vintage French Provincial Blue Painted Bookcase Tall Secretary Desk by Danby
Vintage French Provincial Blue Painted Bookcase Tall Secretary Desk by Danby

Vintage French Provincial Blue Painted Bookcase Tall Secretary Desk by Danby

By Danby

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Vintage French Provincial Blue Distress Painted Bookcase Tall Secretary Desk by Danby. Item features shell carved accents, working lock and key, solid wood construction, great style ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown French Provincial Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Secretary desk, circa 1900
Secretary desk, circa 1900

Secretary desk, circa 1900

Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland

This secretary desk from circa 1900 combines functionality with a timeless appearance. The piece of furniture is crafted from pine and oak, finished with a walnut veneer on the insid...

Category

Antique Early 1900s Hungarian Rustic Secretaires

Materials

Oak, Walnut, Pine

Unique Venetian Italian Paint Decorated Secretary Desk with Bookcase Circa 1890s
Unique Venetian Italian Paint Decorated Secretary Desk with Bookcase Circa 1890s

Unique Venetian Italian Paint Decorated Secretary Desk with Bookcase Circa 1890s

Located in Swedesboro, NJ

This Venetian Italian paint decorated secretary desk with bookcase, circa 1890s, is a remarkable example of hand-crafted artistry and old-world European charm.

Category

Antique 1890s Italian Neoclassical Revival Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Rare Antique Swedish 1800s Rococo Secretary Cabinet with a Clock, Original Paint
Rare Antique Swedish 1800s Rococo Secretary Cabinet with a Clock, Original Paint

Rare Antique Swedish 1800s Rococo Secretary Cabinet with a Clock, Original Paint

Located in Kramfors, SE

The combination of a cabinet with a secretary desk as well as a clock. Original paint with minor marks, distress and traces of wear from the history.

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Rococo Cabinets

Materials

Pine

Secretary Swedish Rococo. Black
Secretary Swedish Rococo. Black

Secretary Swedish Rococo. Black

Located in Kastrup, DK

Elegant Swedish Rococo Secretary Desk in Black-Painted Pine. Executed in a beautiful and characteristic Rococo style with a wavy body, sides, and back.

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Rococo Secretaires

Materials

Brass, Iron

Swedish Gustavian Secretary, circa 1790
Swedish Gustavian Secretary, circa 1790

Swedish Gustavian Secretary, circa 1790

Located in Huntington, NY

A two part Swedish Gustavian secretary. The bonnet top consists of an impressive overhanging arched pediment cornice.

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires

Materials

Brass, Iron

1940's, Chinoiserie Secretary
1940's, Chinoiserie Secretary

1940's, Chinoiserie Secretary

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A petite, two part, hand-painted, lacquered, fully finished, drop front Chinoiserie bureau secrétaire from Spain. The interior of the two-door top is wallpapered in faux bamboo fretw...

Category

Vintage 1940s Spanish Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

Chinoiserie Secretary Desk Two Piece
Chinoiserie Secretary Desk Two Piece

Chinoiserie Secretary Desk Two Piece

Located in Bradenton, FL

Desk feature lacquered wood with hand-painted scenes with Chinese figures and Asian landscapes, horses and birds , floral and fauna motifs.

Category

Mid-20th Century Spanish Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Wood

18th century Swedish Gustavian secretary cabinet
18th century Swedish Gustavian secretary cabinet

18th century Swedish Gustavian secretary cabinet

Located in Atlanta, GA

An elegant late 18th century Swedish Gustavian secretary cabinet, handcrafted in pine and finished in a softly distressed original white paint with beautiful age and patina throughout.

Category

Antique 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Vintage Distressed Drop Front Secretary Cabinet
Vintage Distressed Drop Front Secretary Cabinet

Vintage Distressed Drop Front Secretary Cabinet

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

This commanding antique French Provincial secretary cabinet is a masterclass in Neoclassical elegance and artisanal craftsmanship.

Category

Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Secretaires

Materials

Metal

19th Century Chinoiserie Secretary (Secretaire Abbatant)
19th Century Chinoiserie Secretary (Secretaire Abbatant)

19th Century Chinoiserie Secretary (Secretaire Abbatant)

Located in New Orleans, LA

This striking black lacquered Chinoiserie secretaire abbatant (fall front secretary) is beautifully adorned in golden raised Chinese scenes with flora and fauna. The 19th century pi...

Category

Antique 19th Century Secretaires

Materials

Fruitwood, Lacquer

Dark Gray Baroque Secretary, 18th Century
Dark Gray Baroque Secretary, 18th Century

Dark Gray Baroque Secretary, 18th Century

Located in Greding, DE

The dark gray paint finish is newly applied, with a contrasting interior in brick red for a harmonious accent.

Category

Antique 18th Century French Baroque Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Wood, Softwood

Danish 18th Century Rococo Secretary, c.1760
Danish 18th Century Rococo Secretary, c.1760

Danish 18th Century Rococo Secretary, c.1760

Located in Atlanta, GA

A Danish secretary dating to the 18th century , in the Rococo style.

Category

Antique 18th Century Danish Rococo Secretaires

Materials

Wood

19th Century Austrian Secretary, Baroque Revival Style
19th Century Austrian Secretary, Baroque Revival Style

19th Century Austrian Secretary, Baroque Revival Style

Located in PARIS, FR

The 19th century in Austria saw a revival of Baroque and Rococo styles, driven by the imperial court and aristocracy. This secretary is part of this tradition, combining painted deco...

Category

Antique 19th Century Austrian Baroque Revival Cabinets

Materials

Wood

18th Century Swedish Rococo Bombé Secretary Chest
18th Century Swedish Rococo Bombé Secretary Chest

18th Century Swedish Rococo Bombé Secretary Chest

Located in Kastrup, DK

The piece features a beautiful warm ochre-yellow painted finish enhanced by a rich, beautiful patina.

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Rococo Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Venetian Italian Style Polychrome Secretary Bookcase
Venetian Italian Style Polychrome Secretary Bookcase

Venetian Italian Style Polychrome Secretary Bookcase

Located in Tarry Town, NY

Embrace the timeless charm of this Classic Venetian Style Italian Polychrome Lacquered Hand-Painted two parts Bookcase, a piece of furniture that exudes both artistry and history. Th...

Category

Early 20th Century Italian Victorian Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Paint

Antique Swedish Secretary Cabinet 19th Century
Antique Swedish Secretary Cabinet 19th Century

Antique Swedish Secretary Cabinet 19th Century

Located in Houston, TX

19th Century Swedish Secretary Desk with open book shelves above the fall front desk and bottom cabinet doors.

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires

Materials

Wood

19th Century Swedish White Rococo Secretary Bureau
19th Century Swedish White Rococo Secretary Bureau

19th Century Swedish White Rococo Secretary Bureau

Located in Round Top, TX

Early 19th-century Swedish oak secretary bureau with a newer professionally applied antique white painted exterior with pale gray undertones.

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Rococo Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Early 19th Century Stunning Swedish Gustavian Secretary
Early 19th Century Stunning Swedish Gustavian Secretary

Early 19th Century Stunning Swedish Gustavian Secretary

Located in San Angelo, TX

Here is a stunning early 19th century Swedish Gustavian secretary. This secretary features a newer, professionally applied white and gray exterior painted finish by master Swedish ar...

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Rococo Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Late 18th Century Swedish Oak Secretary Bureau
Late 18th Century Swedish Oak Secretary Bureau

Late 18th Century Swedish Oak Secretary Bureau

Located in Round Top, TX

The newer, layered antique white and gray painted finish is professionally applied and has been lightly distressed, to compliment the age and style of this timeless secretary.

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Country Secretaires

Materials

Oak, Paint

Venetian Style Chinoiserie Decorated Parcel Gilt Secretary
Venetian Style Chinoiserie Decorated Parcel Gilt Secretary

Venetian Style Chinoiserie Decorated Parcel Gilt Secretary

Located in Rio Vista, CA

Fantastic 20th century Italian lacquered secretary bookcase decorated in the Venetian taste with dramatic Chinoiserie motifs.

Category

20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Brass

19th Century Swedish Clock Secretary Circa 1820
19th Century Swedish Clock Secretary Circa 1820

19th Century Swedish Clock Secretary Circa 1820

Located in Atlanta, GA

This exceptional 19th-century Swedish clock secretary, circa 1820, combines functionality with timeless Gustavian elegance.

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires

Materials

Pine, Paint

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Painted Secretary For Sale on 1stDibs

With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the painted secretary you’re looking for. Frequently made of wood, paint and metal, every painted secretary was constructed with great care. If you’re shopping for a painted secretary, we have 254 options in-stock, while there are 1 modern editions to choose from as well. You’ve searched high and low for the perfect painted secretary — we have versions that date back to the 18th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 21st Century are available. A painted secretary is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassical styles are sought with frequency. You’ll likely find more than one painted secretary that is appealing in its simplicity, but Dorothy Draper, Henredon and Maitland Smith produced versions that are worth a look.

How Much is a Painted Secretary?

The average selling price for a painted secretary at 1stDibs is $7,294, while they’re typically $750 on the low end and $78,500 for the highest priced.

Finding the Right Secretaires for You

Your antique, new or vintage secretary desk has become the (chic) saving grace of the "new normal" at home.

Simply put, a secretary desk is a multifunctional piece of furniture with a hinged writing surface that folds open or drops down. When the leaf is folded out, small inner storage compartments — pigeonholes, cubbies, recesses or drawers — are revealed.

Traditionally, a secretary is composed of two parts — a chest of drawers on the bottom and a cabinet with shelves on the top. Taking its name from the French word for the piece, secrétaire, the secretary desk dates back to the 18th century, when Paris-based cabinetmaker Jean-François Oeben, known for his exquisite marquetry and clever mechanical desks, is thought to have invented the secrétaire à abbattant, or drop-leaf desk.

While the defining drop-down feature of the secretary desk has remained constant, the materials used, as well as its configuration, size and style have evolved over time.

At first, secretaries were typically made from exotic woods, like rosewood, tulipwood and kingwood; later, hardwoods like cherry, maple, oak and mahogany were more common. The desks also became lighter, with space carved out of the lower half for the writer’s feet or with drawers replaced by legs — making them more table-like.

When open, the secretary is a dynamic, versatile Wunderkammer. When closed, it’s a sophisticated, space-saving piece of furniture.

“A fine secretary with a good provenance adds stature and credence to its owner — it is a cornerstone piece,” says antiques dealer Stanley Weiss, who specializes in 18th- and 19th-century English and American furniture. “In this disposable world, fine furniture is always passed on and speaks to who its owner is.”

No matter what style or period you choose, and no matter how you decide to use it, the timeless, flexible secretary desk is bound to become an indispensable part of your daily routine.

Browse a range of antique and vintage secretary desks on 1stDibs, including mid-century modern secretaires, Georgian secretaires and others.

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